A Refuge (Acts 28:1-10)

 A Refuge

 

 

[Acts 28:1-10]

 

In the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 22:1-2 mentions the "Adullam Cave."  The name "Adullam" means "refuge" or "shelter."  This cave served as a place of refuge for David when he fled from King Saul to the region of Gath.  However, David's presence in the Adullam Cave became known, and his father's household, along with distressed, indebted, and discontented individuals, gathered to him. David became their leader, and about 400 men were with him.  Recent biblical archaeologists exploring the region discovered a cave on a mountain slope in the Adullam region, which could accommodate around 400 people (Conder, Robinson).  Those who were "distressed" suffered politically due to Saul's oppressive rule, the "indebted" faced economic hardship under Saul's unjust fiscal policies or extortionate loans, and the "discontented" bore emotional and spiritual wounds from Saul's immoral and ungodly behavior.  These individuals, including warriors, prophets, and leaders, were not content to remain silent and complacent in the deteriorating kingdom of Saul.  They chose to gather around David, who had been called by God to bring about a new Israel.  Together, in the refuge of Adullam Cave, they found rest, healing for their souls, and began to dream of a unified and renewed Israel.  Drawing parallels, a missionary, Rev. Young Sun Kwon (Rebecca Kwon), who set foot on German soil in 1983 as a UBF (University Bible Fellowship) student missionary, authored a book titled "The Road to Adullam."  In this book, she discusses the dream of reform within the Korean church and missionary organizations.  The book emphasizes that reform is not merely about changing external organizational forms but requires a transformation of individual and collective consciousness.  The book notes: "Reform should always be about the present, not the past or the future. Changing the external form of an organization does not constitute reform.  It is our individual and collective consciousness that needs to change (Internet).  The idea is that as individuals undergo transformation, the church will change, enabling it to fulfill its role as light and salt in the world.

 

I will begin by examining our awareness of the church, focusing on Acts 28:1-10, and seeking to discard any non-biblical thoughts while contemplating a biblical perspective on the church.  In the midst of this, I pray for our church to be transformed into a community pleasing in God's eyes.  In Acts 28:1, despite the storm making salvation seem impossible, the Apostle Paul and the remaining 275 people experienced a miraculous intervention from God, allowing them to safely land on the island of Malta.  Here, the island referred to as "Melite" (Malta) is located south of the island of Sicily.  The name "Melite" for the island means "refuge" or "shelter" (Park).  On this island, Paul and the other 275 people received exceptional hospitality from the natives.  God, who saved all 276 people, provided a refuge for them.  Having faced a life-and-death situation, God, in a dramatic display of grace, fulfilled the promise He made to Paul, allowing him and the other 275 people on the ship to find refuge.  Reflecting on the events centered around the island of Malta, I've considered three aspects of what a refuge might entail.  In the midst of this, I pray for our community, established by the Lord, to become such a refuge.

 

First, a refuge should involve an open-hearted reception.

 

In the midst of a great storm, after Paul and the 275 people miraculously survived by God's grace (v. 1), they arrived at the island of Melite.  There, they received an extraordinary reception from the locals, people who spoke a different dialect, not Greek (Yoo).  Look at Acts 28:2 - "The islanders showed us unusual kindness.  They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold."  The inhabitants of Melite, whether they believed in Jesus like Paul, Luke, Aristarchus, the Roman soldiers, the wealthy shipowner and captain, or the rest of the prisoners—welcomed them all.  How beautiful is the sight of this refuge, where everyone, regardless of distinctions and discriminations, is welcomed by the islanders?  However, during the time of Jesus, the religious leaders, the Pharisees, did not act in the same manner.  For example, when they saw Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, they criticized Him, claiming that He was welcoming sinners (Lk. 15:2).  Jesus came to save sinners, yet the Pharisees, who considered themselves righteous, did not welcome sinners. Instead, they discriminated against and criticized them.  The problem is that such sinful actions still occur in the church today.  People discriminate, criticize, and fail to welcome others with the heart of the Lord.  The root cause of this problem is the arrogance of considering oneself righteous, similar to the Pharisees.  Therefore, we must not sit in high positions, looking down upon others, making light of them, and criticizing them with a sense of spiritual superiority.  This attitude is a sin before God.  We should obey the command in Philippians 2:3, which tells us to consider others better than ourselves.  In doing so, in a community where we welcome each other with the heart of the Lord, whether in Hispanic ministry, English ministry, or Korean ministry, transcending countries and cultures, regardless of gender or wealth, let us put aside all forms of discrimination and, in the name of the Lord, welcome everyone.  I hope and pray and strive for our community to become a refuge like the island of Melite.

 

Second, a refuge should involve special kindness.

 

Look at Acts 28:7 - "There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island.  He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days."  Not only the locals of Melite but also Publius, the highest-ranking person on the island, welcomed Paul and his companions, treating them with kindness for three days.  It might be challenging to assert that all 276 people stayed at Publius's house.  When it says "us," it at least refers to Paul and the author of Acts, Luke, who clearly stayed at Publius's house.  Still, we don't know who else stayed at his house.  However, the crucial point is that Publius opened his heart, not only welcoming strangers but also hosting them in his house for three days.  Welcoming unfamiliar strangers and allowing them to stay in one's home for three days is not an easy task.  It is challenging even with people you know well.  In the Bible, kindness is translated as gentleness, as seen in "Love is patient, love is kind" (1 Cor. 13:4).  Christians, as children of God in Christ, should be gentle and kind.

 

Tolstoy had this to say about kindness: ‘Kindness is the only thing that makes this world beautiful.  It resolves all reproach, unties what is tangled, makes difficult things easy, and turns gloom into joy’ (Internet).  Such kindness should be present in our church.  There should be kindness that makes our church even more beautiful, resolving reproach, untangling complexities, making each other's difficulties easy, and turning gloom into joy.  Our community should be a true refuge with inclusive reception, kind treatment, and especially kindness in welcoming strangers (Heb. 13:2).  Especially when newcomers, unfamiliar with our church, arrive, we should open our hearts, welcome them as they are, and treat them kindly.  Through our kind actions, we should make them feel welcomed.  Therefore, we need to build a genuinely beautiful refuge-community.

 

Third and last, a refuge should have healing.

 

In today's passage, Acts 28:1-10, there is one miraculous event and two healing incidents.  The miraculous event is the story of Paul being bitten by a viper on the island of Melite and yet, despite the venomous bite, suffering no harm, a remarkable manifestation of God's saving power (vv. 3, 5).  Initially, the locals of Melite assumed Paul was a murderer when they saw him bitten by the snake (v. 4).  However, after witnessing Paul shake the snake off into the fire without any harm, they changed their perception and thought of Paul as a "god" (v. 6).  God saved Paul, who had been bitten by the snake, during the storm when the ship was breaking apart over the past fourteen days, aligning with His purpose, which led the islanders to regard Paul as a divine figure (Yoo).

 

When considering a refuge, it's essential to understand that there should be no harm in the church (v. 5).  Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that many people within the church are getting hurt nowadays.  Not only pastors but also elders, deacons, and all church members are causing harm to each other amidst disputes and conflicts rather than welcoming and treating each other kindly.  Such behavior is by no means the true image of a church.  A genuine church does not cause wounds but rather heals them.  Look at the two healing incidents in today's passage.  Paul healed Publius, the father of the highest-ranking man on the island, who was suffering from fever and dysentery, through the laying on of hands and prayer (v. 8).  Once this news spread, Paul healed all the sick on the island with the healing power of Jesus (v. 9).  Reflecting on these healing events, I find the lesson of what our community should be in Hosea 6:1 - "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds."  In the church as a refuge, there should be ministries that make things better and heal.  There should never be a probing into others' pasts or wounds.  Instead, we should open our hearts wide, welcome each other as we are, and embrace them with Christ's love.  In such an environment, there should be comfort, encouragement, and healing.

 

Psalms 46:1 declares, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Yes, our Lord is the God who becomes our great help in times of distress.  Only He can be our refuge.  When we approach Him in faith, our Lord will welcome and embrace us with His outstretched arms of the cross.  Our Jesus is a Lord with a gentle and humble heart.  When we approach Him in this manner, our Lord will treat us with special kindness.  As the Lord who becomes our refuge, He will use His healing right hand to bind up our wounded and torn hearts.  Hymn “What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine”, verse 1 and the refrain, beautifully express this sentiment: "What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine.  Leaning on the everlasting arms.  Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms, Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desiring to rest in the arms of Jesus, who bore the cross,

 

 

 

 

 

James Kim

(Dreaming of a community with welcome, kindness, and healing)